IDLEWILD/JOHN F KENNEDY AIRPORT
About the airport
JFK construction(19431955)
TWA FLIGHT CENTRE
TWA Flight Centre , priority on symbolic roles or practicalities? Or balance?
CONSTRUCTION: 1958-1963
“We wanted the architecture to reveal the terminal not as a static, enclosed place but as a place of movement and transition� Euro Sarinen
cast concrete structure
Cur ves and lines imitates flying movement
Interior emphasize more on cur vilinear forms and flowing lines
Provide views for depar ting and arriving jets
Ground navigation
CLOSURE: 2001
New JFK T5 built in front of the TWA
REOPEN: 2018
CONCLUSION:
This airport terminal shows balance relationship in terms of monumentalities and practicalities
Idlewild/John F Kennedy Airport.
will cause traffic congestion in the future.
Introduction
The Architect that was responsible in building the whole airport
J F Kennedy(JFK) airport is an important international airport
then came out with a masterplan, providing each airline their own
near South Ozone Park in the borough of Queens in New York
spot to build their own terminal. This solutions are believed for a
City. Currently it is one of the busiest airport in the world,
more practical and efficient in terms of navigation for the
managing more than 60 million passengers in 2016.
passenger to go from the main airport to the terminal. Every
This airport which was originally recognise as Idlewild airport was
airline have the opportunity design their terminal competitively
opened on 1948. It was called the Idlewild because the airport
aims for the best terminal the can come out with.
was constructed on the former Idlewild Golf Course area. In 1963
In 1960 there are terminals that has been built including arriving
it was renamed in the memory of United States president, John F
and departure halls but only 6 terminal are in use today.
Kennedy a few moth after his assassination. This airport was completed in jet age period which means that during that time
TWA Flight Centre
flying is no longer luxury of the upper class only. More people
The presentation will focus about the most important and
can afford to fly and flying is considered a prestigious event for
controversial terminal of this airport which is the terminal for
them.
TransWorld Airline(TWA) and will further answer the question about symbolic roles and practicalities of this particular terminal.
Construction
The TWA is a significant example of mid-twentieth century
The Port of New York Authority planned for this airport to have a
modern architecture, engineering and airline terminal planning.
single 55-gate terminal but the major airlines during that time claims that the terminal will be too small for airlines traffic which
Priority on Symbolic roles or practicalities? Or
The design is very successful in conveying the drama,
balance?
excitement, and romanticism of flying in jet age, all by the structure itself. The architect manages to create a last place or the first place that the travelers can see into a memorable
The interior of the TWA terminal further emphasized wavy
experience which is very important during that period of time.
forms and flowing lines. Flight panels were also very vividly
Airports are seen as a portal to a new place.
shaped to look like futuristic screens that also followed the circular and curvilinear aesthetic. The huge panels of glass beneath the concrete at waiting area are also supported with steel, and have a modern purple-tint. These glass walls are tilted towards the exterior at an angle as they reach the ceiling, as if proposed for viewers to imagine looking out from a plane to the earth below. These windows also highlight the purpose of the structure, providing views of departing and arriving jets with a few couches facing outside. The red carpeted ground is used as some sort of navigation from terminal to the flight.
The Closure The glorious and glamour however does not last forever. TWA airlines went bankrupt on 2001 and leaves this terminal empty.
The reason why this building is empty for so long is because the size of the terminal itself is very small to be used for 21 century airline traffic. Engineers and architect are unable to find a way to do extension for this building to make it bigger without destroying its prominent structure Reopen The TWA terminal however will be reopen on its whole, not as
It is clear that Saarinen’s design of the TWA Flight Center was
the airport terminal but as an airport hotel. It is predicted to
very innovative for its time. It implements radical design
finish on 2018 and the hotel is said to relive the glory of TWA
approach for its time as well as incorporate modern materials
Flight Centre.
such concrete and steel. It was one of the first progressive pieces of modern architecture to be used as a public space.
Conclusion The TWA Flight Centre offers balance relationship in terms of its monumentality and practicality. The symbolic meanings of gives reason for the shape, design and functionality of this terminal with the imitation of wings. Eventhough this terminal cannot
be renovated to make it bigger to accommodate rapid arlines development nowadays, the journey for passengers in the terminal to the plane are clearly defined by the interior design with the use of red carpeted floor as some sort of indication. The idea of such a modern masterpiece sitting empty and unused is quite devastating but is also a relieve that the achievement of the recognition it deserves and to an innovation of those that have worked to update it for a new century.
References Stoff, J. (2009) John F. Kennedy International Airport. San Francisco, Arcadia Publishing Alastair G. (2008) Naked airport: a cultural history of the world’s most revolutionary structure. Chicago, The University of Chicago Press Perez, A. (2010 July 2). AD Classics: TWA Terminal / Eero Saarinen. Retrieved from http://www.archdaily.com/66828/adclassics-twa-terminal-eero-saarinen Vasilenovic, M. (2015 November 15). Final call for JFK Airport's classic TWA terminal. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/14/aviation/twa-terminal-jfk-airport/ Cohen M. (2014 October 14) An Architect’s Gift from the Jet Age: The TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport. Retrieved from https://www.6sqft.com/an-architects-gift-from-the-jet-age-the-twaflight-center-at-jfk-international-airport/